Bono on grace and karma

From the book Bono on Bono: Conversations with Michka Assayas (p203)

Interviewer: As I told you, I think I am beginning to understand religion because I have started acting and thinking like a father. What do you make of that?

Yes, I think that’s normal. It’s a mind blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, bit the thing that jeeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.

I haven’t heard you talk about that.

I really believe we’re moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace

Well, that doesn’t make it clearer for me.

You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: and eye for and eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics – in physical laws -  every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the Universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “As you reap, so will you sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.

I’d be interested to hear that.

That’s between me and God. But I’d be in big trouble is Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep shit. It doesn’t’ excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without….

A repeat of the Flash Mob Hallelujah Chorus, sung in a mall food court last year.

Justin Bieber on prayer

I pray throughout the day. Sometimes it’s hard because I get caught up in what I’m doing, but if I forget, I try to remind myself why I’m here.

Justin Bieber on Access Hollywood (27 October 2011)

H/T Damaris.org

Wrong Worship

H/T Jonny Baker

Rob bell on the creative process

Notes from Rob Bell’s talk on the creative process at Greenbelt Festival. Brackets are mine.

Creativity starts with how you see the world
1. God is already present – first assumption. At every time you’re on holy ground learn to observe.
2. Capture the moment remember. Write things down. Take note. Take a photo.
Turn your edit button off until the thing is written/ or out of the brain. Get it out first then edit.
It nay be rubbish but unless you get it out you’ll never know.
3. You make stuff because you have to, they’re in you. (passion and need?). Youdfont have control over how it is received. The reward is not that it is received well but that you were able to create it. (God given creativity accomplished)
4. creativity is exhausting. That’s ok and it is a cost of creativity. Take a break if or when ideas don’t come.

Questions. Creativity doesn’t have to be written or artistic. Could be organisational. (Just following spirit really)

I did then ask a question about church-planting, and, in particular how he planted his church, but he didn’t really expand on the beginnings of his church any more than he did in Velvet Elvis – namely, that he was an associate pastor in another church and a group of them thought there was a need for a church plant. They were offered the use of warehouse building for the rent of $1 a year, and five weeks later they began. Velvet Elvis says that on the first week nearly 1000 people turned up. I was a little disappointed that he didn’t go into more detail on what happened in those 5 weeks.

I continually have this song in my head…

Can anyone guess why?

Played rather well I think!

Had to post this again because it’s brilliant…

Anderson and Roe perform the Star Wars Imperial March on two pianos.

The Hallelujah Chorus – God Reigns Everywhere.

And He shall reign… in the food court

in the department store…

… and everywhere.

I love these flash mobs and random acts of culture as they declare the truth that God’s power, influence and sovereignty are not limited to church buildings or Christian experiences, but he rules over all things, everywhere, in every aspect of life. The food court example is especially powerful. God Reigns Everywhere!

Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory! (Rev 19:6-7)

The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever. (Rev 11:15)

The KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev 19:16)

Fight for your love.

Celebrity gossip doesn’t usually interest me but I was listening to the radio a couple of days ago and became intrigued by the new song from Cheryl Cole. I’m not usually a fan of hers, I don’t have any of her singles or albums and haven’t really paid her that much attention. But I had picked up snippets from her life so far.

For example,  I knew that Cheryl was born and brought up not to far from where I was brought up… just outside Newcastle. But I also knew she lived in an area that had a lot of problems with high rates of crime, addictions, teenage pregnancy, poor school attendance, and a high proportion of single parents. I knew that Cheryl didn’t have a good start in life.

I also knew that she managed to get on a TV talent show – Pop-Stars:The Rivals in 2003, which she won with the group Girls Aloud which instantly had a number one hit with Sound of the Underground. She now has a solo career and has become a judge on the X-Factor.

I was also aware that Cheryl was married to another famous person, the Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole. He proposed in 2005 and they were married in a lavish wedding ceremony in 2006, with exclusive photos carried by OK! magazine.

I had also heard, unfortunately, that Ashley was not a nice boy. I didn’t really like him anyway because he played for Chelsea. But, it was reported, back in 2008, that Ashley had been unfaithful to Cheryl. He had allegedly had an affair with a hairdresser called Aimee and with a model. So, after that Cheryl and Ashley had a brief separation during which, apparently, Ashley apologised and supposedly grovelled to Cheryl to take him back…which she did. Ashley wronged Cheryl but she was willing to forgive him and they are now back together.

So, no, I don’t really follow her life, but this is what I’d picked up.

Now, what caught my attention was the song that was on the radio. It was a love song, but a love song with a difference. It’s called, Fight for this Love, and it’s as if all of Cheryl’s experiences of her life, and her relationship with Ashley Cole, have been rolled up into this song.

The song recognises that in relationships, things aren’t always rosy

“Now everyday aint gon´ be no picnic
Love aint no walk in the park“

It recognises that relationships are difficult, as in her case when her husband has wronged her. But even in relationships where there is no unfaithfulness, the song recognises that there’ll be good days when the feelings of love are wonderful, and there will be bad days when you have to muster up every ounce of energy that you have to forgive the other one.

Anything that´s worth having
Is sure enough worth fighting for
Quitting’s out of the question
When it gets tough gotta fight some more
We gotta fight fight fight fight fight for this love

Relationships are not easy, but they are worth sticking at and working at. Because it is in the forgiving, the discussing, the working together, and the thinking of the other person that the relationship is deepened. As each partner recognises their failings and comes to the other in humility, the sense of dependance and consequently, the marriage relationship is deepened. A deep long lasting relationship needs to be worked at.

When we think about it, that’s true of all the good things in life, why should marriage be ay different? If we want the best things from life, we need to commit to them and work at them. If we want to have a good career, we need to commit to that goal, and work towards it. If we want to play a musical instrument, we need to practice. Want to be good at sport, we  need to work at our skills. Apparently David Beckham used to stay back a long time after training was over just practising taking free kicks.

Likewise, if want a good, long-lasting, deep relationship we must be prepared to prioritise it and put into place good practices: spending quality time with each other, doing kind acts for each other, buying gifts that show appreciation every so often. And, most importantly, being prepared to forgive a when there is genuine repentance.

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (Prov 14:23)

Michael Jackson identifies with us

An article which I wrote for the local paper which will be appearing as a ‘Saturday Thought’ on 3rd August:

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Much recent media attention has been focussed on Michael Jackson and his untimely death, the exact causes of which are still unknown. Whatever you thought of his changing appearance, habits and lifestyle, Jackson will certainly be remembered most for his mastery of pop music and production.

Whilst his music took pop to another level, his lyrics explored aspects of human experience that we can all relate to, but may find hard to articulate. Many of his songs talked about hopes and longings that are common to most of us. In ‘You Are Not Alone,’ Jackson longs for an everlasting unending love. ‘Billie Jean’ is the story of a young man following his heart against the advice of his head. And ‘Man in the Mirror’, describes someone who realises that he has been living selfishly and who wants to change himself in order to make the world a better place.

These themes resonate with us because they describe fundamental longings which all of us have – a longing that we are loved, a sense of equality and justice, and often, a sense that we are not good enough or have failed at something and need to change. At the end of the day, despite success, fame and money, Jackson was a lonely figure who seemed to spend his life seeking to fill an emptiness or reclaim something that was lost to him.

These feelings are common to us all because they were put there by God. The 5th century thinker, St. Augustine of Hippo wrote:

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

Until we come to God, we will be constantly longing for these things.

Speaking of this, Jesus said:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

What a joy it is to know that what we seek most in life is within our reach through Jesus Christ!